Three things we can all do to honor Black History Month in February and beyond

Three things we can all do to honor Black History Month in February and beyond

1) Support Black Authors

Children’s books, young adult, novels, the gift of literature pays back in leaps and bounds. Not only are you supporting the author but you share the art of storytelling, especially theirs. You don’t have to just purchase books for your own collection, donate to local schools and libraries. Volunteer to read to children or senior citizens in your community. Some books to look up:

I Am Enough, by by Grace Byers This is a gorgeous, lyrical ode to loving who you are, respecting others, and being kind to one another—from Empire actor and activist Grace Byers and talented newcomer artist Keturah A. Bobo. This is the perfect gift for mothers and daughters, baby showers, and graduation. We are all here for a purpose. We are more than enough. We just need to believe it.

Mango Delight, by by Fracaswell HymanWhat happens when your BFF becomes your EFF . . . EX-Friend-Forever? When seventh-grader Mango Delight Fuller accidentally breaks her BFF Brooklyn’s new cell phone, her life falls apart. She loses her friends and her spot on the track team, and even costs her father his job as a chef. But Brooklyn’s planned revenge—sneakily signing up Mango to audition for the school musical—backfires when Mango not only wins the lead role but becomes a YouTube sensation and attracts the attention of the school’s queen bee, Hailey Jo. Hailey Jo is from a VERY wealthy family and expects everyone to do her bidding. Soon Mango finds herself forced to make tough choices about the kind of friend she wants to have . . . and, just as important, the kind of friend she wants to be.

Marley Dias Gets It Done, by Marley DiasMarley Dias, the powerhouse girl-wonder who started the #1000blackgirlbooks campaign, speaks to kids about her passion for making our world a better place, and how to make their dreams come true!In this accessible guide with an introduction by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Ava DuVernay, Marley Dias explores activism, social justice, volunteerism, equity and inclusion, and using social media for good.

A Blade So Black, by L.L. McKinneyThe first time the Nightmares came, it nearly cost Alice her life. Now she's trained to battle monstrous creatures in the dark dream realm known as Wonderland with magic weapons and hardcore fighting skills. Yet even warriors have a curfew. Life in real-world Atlanta isn't always so simple, as Alice juggles an overprotective mom, a high-maintenance best friend, and a slipping GPA. Keeping the Nightmares at bay is turning into a full-time job. But when Alice's handsome and mysterious mentor is poisoned, she has to find the antidote by venturing deeper into Wonderland than she’s ever gone before. And she'll need to use everything she's learned in both worlds to keep from losing her head . . . literally.

2) Support Black Movies

Want to catch a movie instead? Supporting movies produced, directed and featuring black creatives shows Hollywood that representation matters on the big screen and the little screen. Major blockbusters are one thing, but also seek out independent, documentary films to share with family and friends to create positive discussion and bring awareness to the subjects at hand. Work with your school or community center to organize a movie night attending or featuring one of these movies:

Black PantherOne of the most anticipated Marvel movies of the year is coming out in 2018. With an all-star cast and Marvel Studios producing, Black Panther is anticipated to be one of the top-grossing movies of 2018.

Dark GirlsDARK GIRLS is a fascinating and controversial film that goes underneath the surface to explore the prejudices dark-skinned women face throughout the world. It explores the roots of classism, racism and the lack of self-esteem within a segment of cultures that span from America to the most remote corners of the globe. Women share their personal stories, touching on deeply ingrained beliefs and attitudes of society while allowing generations to heal as they learn to love themselves for who they are.

MoonlightA moving, transcendent, award-winning look at 3 defining chapters in the life of Chiron, a young man growing up in Miami. His epic journey to adulthood, as a shy outsider dealing with difficult circumstances, is guided by support, empathy and love from the most unexpected places.

More Than A MonthIn this 2012 documentary, African American filmmaker Shukree Hassan Tilghman sets off on a journey across America asking the question “Should Black History Month be ended?” Tilghman searches to learn more about race and power in contemporary America by interviewing experts at revered organizations around the country in addition to everyday people he meets along the way during his journey.

Using cinema verité, man-on-the-street interviews, and dramatizations to understand the implications of Black History Month, More Than a Month is both an amusing and thought-provoking look at what the treatment of history tells us about race and power in the United States. Through all this, Tilghman explores what it means to be an American and the universal endeavor to find one’s self.

Hidden FiguresAn incredible & inspiring untold true story about three women at NASA who were instrumental in one of history’s greatest operations – the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit.

3) Support Black Non-Profits in your community

Activists are hard at work year around advocating for equal rights. While every organization needs monetary support, volunteering your time is always welcomed at non-profits who are running on low resources. Some organizations that welcome support:

Black Girls CODEBlack Girls CODE is devoted to showing the world that black girls can code, and do so much more. By reaching out to the community through workshops and after-school programs, Black Girls GODE introduces computer coding lessons to young girls from underrepresented communities in programming languages such as Scratch or Ruby on Rails. Black Girls CODE has set out to prove to the world that girls of every color have the skills to become the programmers of tomorrow.

Sister Love, Inc.SisterLove is working to eradicate the impact of HIV and sexual and reproductive oppressions upon all women and their communities in the US and around the world. The organization offers HIV testing and counseling, health education and advocacy programs, and international and leadership programs.

Incite!: Women of Color Against ViolenceINCITE! is a nation-wide network of radical feminists of color working to end violence against women, gender non-conforming, and trans people of color, and our communities. We support each other through direct action, critical dialogue, and grassroots organizing.

Jack and Jill of America, Inc.Jack and Jill of America is an organization created to provide social, cultural and educational opportunities for youth between the ages of 2 and 19. They are dedicated to nurturing future African American leaders by strengthening children through leadership development, volunteer service, philanthropic giving and civic duty.

Seek out some local nonprofitsFind local nonprofit organization in your community through your local library, town hall, university or online through websites such as guidestar.org.

While Black History Month is officially the month of February it’s important to support throughout the year and seek out ways to support each other. These are just a few examples of support, tell us how you honor Black History Month.

Kappa Delta Chi Sorority, Inc. is a Latina founded, 501 c 7, national sorority who aims to achieve professional development, academic excellence, and graduation of all its members; an organization dedicated to community service to their local university communities with an emphasis on the Hispanic/Latino population.###

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